diff --git a/src/lib_data_encoding/binary_error.ml b/src/lib_data_encoding/binary_error.ml
index 502cd51f3..683c8f534 100644
--- a/src/lib_data_encoding/binary_error.ml
+++ b/src/lib_data_encoding/binary_error.ml
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ type read_error =
   | Invalid_int of { min : int ; v : int ; max : int }
   | Invalid_float of { min : float ; v : float ; max : float }
   | Trailing_zero
+  | Size_limit_exceeded
 
 let pp_read_error ppf = function
   | Not_enough_data ->
@@ -34,6 +35,8 @@ let pp_read_error ppf = function
       Format.fprintf ppf "Invalid float (%f <= %f <= %f) " min v max
   | Trailing_zero ->
       Format.fprintf ppf "Trailing zero in Z"
+  | Size_limit_exceeded ->
+      Format.fprintf ppf "Size limit exceeded"
 
 exception Read_error of read_error
 
diff --git a/src/lib_data_encoding/binary_error.mli b/src/lib_data_encoding/binary_error.mli
index 1d43ee274..dc01588c8 100644
--- a/src/lib_data_encoding/binary_error.mli
+++ b/src/lib_data_encoding/binary_error.mli
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ type read_error =
   | Invalid_int of { min : int ; v : int ; max : int }
   | Invalid_float of { min : float ; v : float ; max : float }
   | Trailing_zero
+  | Size_limit_exceeded
 exception Read_error of read_error
 val pp_read_error: Format.formatter -> read_error -> unit
 
diff --git a/src/lib_data_encoding/binary_length.ml b/src/lib_data_encoding/binary_length.ml
index 991da65ea..feecf5fef 100644
--- a/src/lib_data_encoding/binary_length.ml
+++ b/src/lib_data_encoding/binary_length.ml
@@ -110,6 +110,10 @@ let rec length : type x. x Encoding.t -> x -> int =
     | Splitted { encoding = e } -> length e value
     | Dynamic_size e ->
         Binary_size.int32 + length e value
+    | Check_size { limit ; encoding = e } ->
+        let length = length e value in
+        if length > limit then raise (Write_error Size_limit_exceeded) ;
+        length
     | Delayed f -> length (f ()) value
 
 let fixed_length e =
diff --git a/src/lib_data_encoding/binary_reader.ml b/src/lib_data_encoding/binary_reader.ml
index bd2936d98..a17ba53cc 100644
--- a/src/lib_data_encoding/binary_reader.ml
+++ b/src/lib_data_encoding/binary_reader.ml
@@ -15,19 +15,26 @@ type state = {
   buffer : MBytes.t ;
   mutable offset : int ;
   mutable remaining_bytes : int ;
+  mutable allowed_bytes : int option ;
 }
 
+let check_allowed_bytes state size =
+  match state.allowed_bytes with
+  | Some len when len < size -> raise Size_limit_exceeded
+  | Some len -> Some (len - size)
+  | None -> None
+
 let check_remaining_bytes state size =
   if state.remaining_bytes < size then
     raise Not_enough_data ;
   state.remaining_bytes - size
 
 let read_atom size conv state =
-  let remaining_bytes = check_remaining_bytes state size in
-  let res = conv state.buffer state.offset in
+  let offset = state.offset in
+  state.remaining_bytes <- check_remaining_bytes state size ;
+  state.allowed_bytes <- check_allowed_bytes state size ;
   state.offset <- state.offset + size ;
-  state.remaining_bytes <- remaining_bytes ;
-  res
+  conv state.buffer offset
 
 (** Reader for all the atomic types. *)
 module Atom = struct
@@ -179,6 +186,7 @@ let rec read_rec : type ret. ret Encoding.t -> state -> ret
           Some (read_rec e state)
     | Objs (`Fixed sz, e1, e2) ->
         ignore (check_remaining_bytes state sz : int) ;
+        ignore (check_allowed_bytes state sz : int option) ;
         let left = read_rec e1 state in
         let right = read_rec e2 state in
         (left, right)
@@ -191,6 +199,7 @@ let rec read_rec : type ret. ret Encoding.t -> state -> ret
     | Tup e -> read_rec e state
     | Tups (`Fixed sz, e1, e2) ->
         ignore (check_remaining_bytes state sz : int) ;
+        ignore (check_allowed_bytes state sz : int option) ;
         let left = read_rec e1 state in
         let right = read_rec e2 state in
         (left, right)
@@ -219,10 +228,31 @@ let rec read_rec : type ret. ret Encoding.t -> state -> ret
         if sz < 0 then raise (Invalid_size sz) ;
         let remaining = check_remaining_bytes state sz in
         state.remaining_bytes <- sz ;
+        ignore (check_allowed_bytes state sz : int option) ;
         let v = read_rec e state in
         if state.remaining_bytes <> 0 then raise Extra_bytes ;
         state.remaining_bytes <- remaining ;
         v
+    | Check_size { limit ; encoding = e } ->
+        let old_allowed_bytes = state.allowed_bytes in
+        let limit =
+          match state.allowed_bytes with
+          | None -> limit
+          | Some current_limit -> min current_limit limit in
+        state.allowed_bytes <- Some limit ;
+        let v = read_rec e state in
+        let allowed_bytes =
+          match old_allowed_bytes with
+          | None -> None
+          | Some old_limit ->
+              let remaining =
+                match state.allowed_bytes with
+                | None -> assert false
+                | Some remaining -> remaining in
+              let read = limit - remaining in
+              Some (old_limit - read) in
+        state.allowed_bytes <- allowed_bytes ;
+        v
     | Describe { encoding = e } -> read_rec e state
     | Def { encoding = e } -> read_rec e state
     | Splitted { encoding = e } -> read_rec e state
@@ -267,7 +297,8 @@ and read_list : type a. a Encoding.t -> state -> a list
 
 let read encoding buffer ofs len =
   let state =
-    { buffer ; offset = ofs ; remaining_bytes = len } in
+    { buffer ; offset = ofs ;
+      remaining_bytes = len ; allowed_bytes = None } in
   match read_rec encoding state with
   | exception Read_error _ -> None
   | v -> Some (state.offset, v)
@@ -275,7 +306,8 @@ let read encoding buffer ofs len =
 let of_bytes_exn encoding buffer =
   let len = MBytes.length buffer in
   let state =
-    { buffer ; offset = 0 ; remaining_bytes = len } in
+    { buffer ; offset = 0 ;
+      remaining_bytes = len ; allowed_bytes = None } in
   let v = read_rec encoding state in
   if state.offset <> len then raise Extra_bytes ;
   v
diff --git a/src/lib_data_encoding/binary_stream_reader.ml b/src/lib_data_encoding/binary_stream_reader.ml
index ef2fced19..9543560c6 100644
--- a/src/lib_data_encoding/binary_stream_reader.ml
+++ b/src/lib_data_encoding/binary_stream_reader.ml
@@ -22,6 +22,10 @@ type state = {
       illimited). Reading less bytes should raise [Extra_bytes] and
       trying to read more bytes should raise [Not_enough_data]. *)
 
+  allowed_bytes : int option ;
+  (** Maximum number of bytes that are allowed to be read from 'stream'
+      before to fail (None = illimited). *)
+
   total_read : int ;
   (** Total number of bytes that has been read from [stream] since the
       beginning. *)
@@ -41,6 +45,12 @@ let check_remaining_bytes state size =
   | Some len -> Some (len - size)
   | None -> None
 
+let check_allowed_bytes state size =
+  match state.allowed_bytes with
+  | Some len when len < size -> raise Size_limit_exceeded
+  | Some len -> Some (len - size)
+  | None -> None
+
 (** [read_atom resume size conv state k] reads [size] bytes from [state],
     pass it to [conv] to be decoded, and finally call the continuation [k]
     with the decoded value and the updated state.
@@ -61,9 +71,10 @@ let check_remaining_bytes state size =
 let read_atom resume size conv state k =
   match
     let remaining_bytes = check_remaining_bytes state size in
+    let allowed_bytes = check_allowed_bytes state size in
     let res, stream = Binary_stream.read state.stream size in
     conv res.buffer res.ofs,
-    { remaining_bytes ; stream ;
+    { remaining_bytes ; allowed_bytes ; stream ;
       total_read = state.total_read + size }
   with
   | exception (Read_error error) -> Error error
@@ -242,6 +253,7 @@ let rec read_rec
           k (Some v, state)
     | Objs (`Fixed sz, e1, e2) ->
         ignore (check_remaining_bytes state sz : int option) ;
+        ignore (check_allowed_bytes state sz : int option) ;
         read_rec e1 state @@ fun (left, state) ->
         read_rec e2 state @@ fun (right, state) ->
         k ((left, right), state)
@@ -254,6 +266,7 @@ let rec read_rec
     | Tup e -> read_rec e state k
     | Tups (`Fixed sz, e1, e2) ->
         ignore (check_remaining_bytes state sz : int option) ;
+        ignore (check_allowed_bytes state sz : int option) ;
         read_rec e1 state @@ fun (left, state) ->
         read_rec e2 state @@ fun (right, state) ->
         k ((left, right), state)
@@ -288,11 +301,31 @@ let rec read_rec
         else
           let remaining = check_remaining_bytes state sz in
           let state = { state with remaining_bytes = Some sz } in
+          ignore (check_allowed_bytes state sz : int option) ;
           read_rec e state @@ fun (v, state) ->
           if state.remaining_bytes <> Some 0 then
             Error Extra_bytes
           else
             k (v, { state with remaining_bytes = remaining })
+    | Check_size { limit ; encoding = e } ->
+        let old_allowed_bytes = state.allowed_bytes in
+        let limit =
+          match state.allowed_bytes with
+          | None -> limit
+          | Some current_limit -> min current_limit limit in
+        let state = { state with allowed_bytes = Some limit } in
+        read_rec e state @@ fun (v, state) ->
+        let allowed_bytes =
+          match old_allowed_bytes with
+          | None -> None
+          | Some old_limit ->
+              let remaining =
+                match state.allowed_bytes with
+                | None -> assert false
+                | Some remaining -> remaining in
+              let read = limit - remaining in
+              Some (old_limit - read) in
+        k (v, { state with allowed_bytes })
     | Describe { encoding = e } -> read_rec e state k
     | Def { encoding = e } -> read_rec e state k
     | Splitted { encoding = e } -> read_rec e state k
@@ -362,6 +395,6 @@ let read_stream ?(init = Binary_stream.empty) encoding =
       invalid_arg "Data_encoding.Binary.read_stream: variable encoding"
   | `Dynamic | `Fixed _ ->
       (* No hardcoded read limit in a stream. *)
-      let state = { remaining_bytes = None ;
+      let state = { remaining_bytes = None ; allowed_bytes = None ;
                     stream = init ; total_read = 0 } in
       read_rec encoding state success
diff --git a/src/lib_data_encoding/binary_writer.ml b/src/lib_data_encoding/binary_writer.ml
index c06835d8e..f6e23882f 100644
--- a/src/lib_data_encoding/binary_writer.ml
+++ b/src/lib_data_encoding/binary_writer.ml
@@ -268,6 +268,28 @@ let rec write_rec : type a. a Encoding.t -> state -> a -> unit =
         MBytes.set_int32
           state.buffer (initial_offset - Binary_size.int32)
           (Int32.of_int size)
+    | Check_size { limit ; encoding = e } -> begin
+        (* backup the current limit *)
+        let old_limit = state.allowed_bytes in
+        (* install the new limit (only if smaller than the current limit) *)
+        let limit =
+          match state.allowed_bytes with
+          | None -> limit
+          | Some old_limit -> min old_limit limit in
+        state.allowed_bytes <- Some limit ;
+        write_rec e state value ;
+        (* restore the previous limit (minus the read bytes) *)
+        match old_limit with
+        | None ->
+            state.allowed_bytes <- None
+        | Some old_limit ->
+            let remaining =
+              match state.allowed_bytes with
+              | None -> assert false
+              | Some len -> len in
+            let read = limit - remaining in
+            state.allowed_bytes <- Some (old_limit - read)
+      end
     | Describe { encoding = e } -> write_rec e state value
     | Def { encoding = e } -> write_rec e state value
     | Splitted { encoding = e } -> write_rec e state value
diff --git a/src/lib_data_encoding/data_encoding.mli b/src/lib_data_encoding/data_encoding.mli
index 72ea2b715..45bafd39b 100644
--- a/src/lib_data_encoding/data_encoding.mli
+++ b/src/lib_data_encoding/data_encoding.mli
@@ -387,6 +387,12 @@ module Encoding: sig
       Usually used to fix errors from combining two encodings. *)
   val dynamic_size : 'a encoding -> 'a encoding
 
+  (** [check_size size encoding] ensures that the binary encoding
+      of a value will not be allowed to exceed [size] bytes. The reader and
+      and the writer fails otherwise. This function do not modify
+      the JSON encoding. *)
+  val check_size : int -> 'a encoding -> 'a encoding
+
   (** Recompute the encoding definition each time it is used.
       Useful for dynamically updating the encoding of values of an extensible
       type via a global reference (e.g. exceptions). *)
@@ -538,6 +544,7 @@ module Binary: sig
     | Invalid_int of { min : int ; v : int ; max : int }
     | Invalid_float of { min : float ; v : float ; max : float }
     | Trailing_zero
+    | Size_limit_exceeded
   exception Read_error of read_error
   val pp_read_error: Format.formatter -> read_error -> unit
 
diff --git a/src/lib_data_encoding/encoding.ml b/src/lib_data_encoding/encoding.ml
index ef50854dc..aac2bf7b7 100644
--- a/src/lib_data_encoding/encoding.ml
+++ b/src/lib_data_encoding/encoding.ml
@@ -107,6 +107,7 @@ type 'a desc =
         json_encoding : 'a Json_encoding.encoding ;
         is_obj : bool ; is_tup : bool } -> 'a desc
   | Dynamic_size : 'a t -> 'a desc
+  | Check_size : { limit : int ; encoding : 'a t } -> 'a desc
   | Delayed : (unit -> 'a t) -> 'a desc
 
 and _ field =
@@ -170,6 +171,7 @@ let rec classify : type a. a t -> Kind.t = fun e ->
   | Def { encoding } -> classify encoding
   | Splitted { encoding } -> classify encoding
   | Dynamic_size _ -> `Dynamic
+  | Check_size { encoding } -> classify encoding
   | Delayed f -> classify (f ())
 
 let make ?json_encoding encoding = { encoding ; json_encoding }
@@ -200,6 +202,9 @@ end
 let dynamic_size e =
   make @@ Dynamic_size e
 
+let check_size limit encoding =
+  make @@ Check_size { limit ; encoding }
+
 let delayed f =
   make @@ Delayed f
 
@@ -495,6 +500,7 @@ let rec is_nullable: type t. t encoding -> bool = fun e ->
   | Def { encoding = e } -> is_nullable e
   | Splitted { json_encoding } -> Json_encoding.is_nullable json_encoding
   | Dynamic_size e -> is_nullable e
+  | Check_size { encoding = e } -> is_nullable e
   | Delayed _ -> true
 
 let option ty =
diff --git a/src/lib_data_encoding/encoding.mli b/src/lib_data_encoding/encoding.mli
index e431838b3..29a95cb49 100644
--- a/src/lib_data_encoding/encoding.mli
+++ b/src/lib_data_encoding/encoding.mli
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ type 'a desc =
         json_encoding : 'a Json_encoding.encoding ;
         is_obj : bool ; is_tup : bool } -> 'a desc
   | Dynamic_size : 'a t -> 'a desc
+  | Check_size : { limit : int ; encoding : 'a t } -> 'a desc
   | Delayed : (unit -> 'a t) -> 'a desc
 
 and _ field =
@@ -121,6 +122,7 @@ module Variable : sig
   val list : 'a encoding -> 'a list encoding
 end
 val dynamic_size : 'a encoding -> 'a encoding
+val check_size : int -> 'a encoding -> 'a encoding
 val delayed : (unit -> 'a encoding) -> 'a encoding
 val req :
   ?title:string -> ?description:string ->
diff --git a/src/lib_data_encoding/json.ml b/src/lib_data_encoding/json.ml
index b36f118e6..32bd760d8 100644
--- a/src/lib_data_encoding/json.ml
+++ b/src/lib_data_encoding/json.ml
@@ -199,6 +199,7 @@ let rec json : type a. a Encoding.desc -> a Json_encoding.encoding =
   | Union (_tag_size, _, cases) -> union (List.map case_json cases)
   | Splitted { json_encoding } -> json_encoding
   | Dynamic_size e -> get_json e
+  | Check_size { encoding } -> get_json encoding
   | Delayed f -> get_json (f ())
 
 and field_json
diff --git a/src/lib_data_encoding/test/read_failure.ml b/src/lib_data_encoding/test/read_failure.ml
index e999abbac..bab95be44 100644
--- a/src/lib_data_encoding/test/read_failure.ml
+++ b/src/lib_data_encoding/test/read_failure.ml
@@ -81,6 +81,22 @@ let stream ?(expected = fun _ -> true) read_encoding bytes () =
           Binary.pp_read_error error
   done
 
+let minimal_stream ?(expected = fun _ -> true) expected_read read_encoding bytes () =
+  let name = "minimal_stream" in
+  match streamed_read read_encoding bytes with
+  | Binary.Success _, _ ->
+      Alcotest.failf "%s failed: expecting exception, got success." name
+  | Binary.Await _, _ ->
+      Alcotest.failf "%s failed: not enough data" name
+  | Binary.Error error, count when expected (Binary.Read_error error) && count = expected_read ->
+      ()
+  | Binary.Error error, count ->
+      Alcotest.failf
+        "@[<v 2>%s failed: read error after reading %d. @ %a@]"
+        name count
+        Binary.pp_read_error error
+
+
 let all ?expected name write_encoding read_encoding value =
   let json_value = Json.construct write_encoding value in
   let bson_value = Bson.construct write_encoding value in
@@ -121,6 +137,36 @@ let all_ranged_float minimum maximum =
   all (name ^ ".min") float encoding (minimum -. 1.) @
   all (name ^ ".max") float encoding (maximum +. 1.)
 
+let test_bounded_string_list =
+  let expected = function
+    | Binary_error.Read_error Size_limit_exceeded -> true
+    | _ -> false in
+  let test name ~total ~elements v expected_read expected_read' =
+    let bytes = Binary.to_bytes_exn (Variable.list string) v in
+    let vbytes = Binary.to_bytes_exn (list string) v in
+    [ "bounded_string_list." ^ name, `Quick,
+      binary ~expected (bounded_list ~total ~elements string) bytes ;
+      "bounded_string_list_stream." ^ name, `Quick,
+      stream ~expected
+        (dynamic_size (bounded_list ~total:total ~elements string)) vbytes ;
+      "bounded_string_list_minimal_stream." ^ name, `Quick,
+      minimal_stream ~expected expected_read
+        (dynamic_size (bounded_list ~total:total ~elements string)) vbytes ;
+      "bounded_string_list_minimal_stream." ^ name, `Quick,
+      minimal_stream ~expected expected_read'
+        (check_size (total + 4)
+           (dynamic_size (Variable.list (check_size elements string)))) vbytes ;
+
+    ] in
+  test "a" ~total:0 ~elements:0 [""] 4 4 @
+  test "b1" ~total:3 ~elements:4 [""] 4 4 @
+  test "b2" ~total:4 ~elements:3 [""] 4 4 @
+  test "c1" ~total:19 ~elements:4 ["";"";"";"";""] 20 4 @
+  test "c2" ~total:20 ~elements:3 ["";"";"";"";""] 4 4 @
+  test "d1" ~total:20 ~elements:5 ["";"";"";"";"a"] 24 4 @
+  test "d2" ~total:21 ~elements:4 ["";"";"";"";"a"] 24 24 @
+  test "e" ~total:30 ~elements:10 ["ab";"c";"def";"gh";"ijk"] 32 4
+
 let tests =
   all_ranged_int 100 400 @
   all_ranged_int 19000 19253 @
@@ -134,6 +180,7 @@ let tests =
   all "unknown_case.B" ~expected:missing_case union_enc mini_union_enc (B "2") @
   all "unknown_case.E" ~expected:missing_case union_enc mini_union_enc E @
   all "enum.missing" ~expected:missing_enum enum_enc mini_enum_enc 4 @
+  test_bounded_string_list @
   [ "z.truncated", `Quick,
     binary ~expected:not_enough_data z (MBytes.of_string "\x83") ;
     "z.trailing_zero", `Quick,
diff --git a/src/lib_data_encoding/test/success.ml b/src/lib_data_encoding/test/success.ml
index 23d67f1c1..a3c338c58 100644
--- a/src/lib_data_encoding/test/success.ml
+++ b/src/lib_data_encoding/test/success.ml
@@ -122,6 +122,18 @@ let test_string_enum_boundary () =
   run_test entries2 ;
   run_test (("256", 256) :: entries2)
 
+let test_bounded_string_list =
+  let test name ~total ~elements v =
+    "bounded_string_list." ^ name, `Quick,
+    binary Alcotest.(list string)
+      (bounded_list ~total ~elements string) v in
+  [ test "a" ~total:0 ~elements:0 [] ;
+    test "b" ~total:4 ~elements:4 [""] ;
+    test "c" ~total:20 ~elements:4 ["";"";"";"";""] ;
+    test "d" ~total:21 ~elements:5 ["";"";"";"";"a"] ;
+    test "e" ~total:31 ~elements:10 ["ab";"c";"def";"gh";"ijk"] ;
+  ]
+
 let tests =
   all "null" Alcotest.pass null () @
   all "empty" Alcotest.pass empty () @
@@ -219,5 +231,6 @@ let tests =
   all "array" Alcotest.(array int) (array int31) [|1;2;3;4;5|] @
   all "mu_list.empty" Alcotest.(list int) (mu_list_enc int31) [] @
   all "mu_list" Alcotest.(list int) (mu_list_enc int31) [1;2;3;4;5] @
+  test_bounded_string_list @
   [ "string_enum_boundary", `Quick, test_string_enum_boundary ;
   ]
diff --git a/src/lib_data_encoding/test/types.ml b/src/lib_data_encoding/test/types.ml
index 2ff4e01b6..04190a813 100644
--- a/src/lib_data_encoding/test/types.ml
+++ b/src/lib_data_encoding/test/types.ml
@@ -162,6 +162,9 @@ let mu_list_enc enc =
       (fun (x, xs) -> x :: xs) ;
   ]
 
+let bounded_list ~total ~elements enc =
+  check_size total (Variable.list (check_size elements enc))
+
 module Alcotest = struct
   include Alcotest
   let float =
diff --git a/src/lib_data_encoding/test/write_failure.ml b/src/lib_data_encoding/test/write_failure.ml
index 80e25481e..3e2c66ec3 100644
--- a/src/lib_data_encoding/test/write_failure.ml
+++ b/src/lib_data_encoding/test/write_failure.ml
@@ -51,6 +51,23 @@ let all_ranged_float minimum maximum =
   all (name ^ ".min") encoding (minimum -. 1.) @
   all (name ^ ".max") encoding (maximum +. 1.)
 
+let test_bounded_string_list =
+  let expected = function
+    | Binary_error.Write_error Size_limit_exceeded -> true
+    | _ -> false in
+  let test name ~total ~elements v =
+    "bounded_string_list." ^ name, `Quick,
+    binary ~expected (bounded_list ~total ~elements string) v in
+  [ test "a" ~total:0 ~elements:0 [""] ;
+    test "b1" ~total:3 ~elements:4 [""] ;
+    test "b2" ~total:4 ~elements:3 [""] ;
+    test "c1" ~total:19 ~elements:4 ["";"";"";"";""] ;
+    test "c2" ~total:20 ~elements:3 ["";"";"";"";""] ;
+    test "d1" ~total:20 ~elements:5 ["";"";"";"";"a"] ;
+    test "d2" ~total:21 ~elements:4 ["";"";"";"";"a"] ;
+    test "e" ~total:30 ~elements:10 ["ab";"c";"def";"gh";"ijk"] ;
+  ]
+
 let tests =
   all_ranged_int 100 400 @
   all_ranged_int 19000 19254 @
@@ -61,4 +78,5 @@ let tests =
   all "bytes.fixed" (Fixed.bytes 4) (MBytes.of_string "turlututu") @
   all "unknown_case.B" mini_union_enc (B "2") @
   all "unknown_case.E" mini_union_enc E @
+  test_bounded_string_list @
   []